The Twenty20 exhibition clash between Kiwi rugby and cricket legends may be all for a bit of fun, but it also has serious undertones as well.
The Black Clash T20 Bonanza will see legends from both codes go head to head but the reason they're meeting in the middle is to pour more money into both sport's welfare programmes.
All Blacks captain Kieran Read is taking part and admits once the rugby season is over, he won’t be taking any breaks over summer.
A NZ rugby XI will face off against a cricket XI in Christchurch early next year.
"There's a lot of pressure on myself,"he said.
"I think I'll have to get out the bowling machine after the tour at the end of the year and really get my eye back in."
NZ Cricket Players’ Association CEO Heath Mills said the welfare programmes don’t just take care of recent stars either.
"Players who played 50 years ago, some players who are well into their 60s 70s and 80s have had support from our hardship fund."
Former Black Cap Kyle Mills hasn’t been out of the game that long, but he admits life after cricket has still been a big adjustment.
"I'm four years out from that and I’m still adjusting and it’s hard to change for all of us that do go through that."
The event, conceived by former Black Caps captain Stephen Fleming, and Duco Events boss David Higgins, will take place at Hagley Oval on January 25.
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